mac app storehttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/6539/all
enMorning Report: Apple Pay Heads to Europe, $20M for (Product) RED, Grids 2.0http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_apple_pay_heads_europe_20m_product_red_grids_20
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/grids_for_instagram_2.0_620px.png" alt="Grids for Instagram 2.0" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Christmas may only be a week away, but you won't have to wait that long to unwrap a trio of Apple-related news items. Our Thursday Morning Report offers a few hints about Apple Pay expansion beyond the U.S., follows up on Cupertino's recent (Product) RED campaign, and delivers a big update for Mac-loving Instagram users.</p><h3>Job Listing Hints at Apple Pay Expansion into Europe, Middle East</h3><p>Apple Pay may soon become a lot more ubiquitous, as Apple appears to be eyeing a major expansion beyond the United States. <a href="http://www.iclarified.com/46099/new-apple-pay-team-in-london-will-expand-service-into-europe-middle-east-india-and-africa" target="_blank">iClarified reported Wednesday</a> that a job posting in London specifically mentions the service will be rolling out "across Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa," but offers no details on when that might happen.<br /><br />"The new London-based Apple Pay team will work to drive the roll-out of this technology across EMEIA by working with a variety of internal and external partners, including teams in the US where the product will first launch and the EMEIA organisation, as well as Issuers, payment networks, and merchants across Europe," the job listing reads.<br /><br />China also appears to be in the crosshairs, with a second posting in search of an "Apple Pay Site Reliability Engineer" responsible for "multiple roles focused on the front line customer experience and the back end integration of Apple systems with our Network and Banking partners."</p><h3>Apple Holiday Promotion Raised $20M for (Product) RED</h3><p><a href="http://recode.net/2014/12/17/apples-holiday-product-red-campaign-raises-20-million-for-aids-research/" target="_blank">Re/code reported Wednesday</a> that Apple's recent holiday campaign appears to have been a smashing success, raising more than $20 million for partner (Product) RED to help fight the spread of AIDS in Africa.<br /><br />“I’m thrilled to announce that our total donation for this quarter will be more than $20 million — our biggest ever — bringing the total amount Apple has raised for (PRODUCT) RED to over $100 million,” Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote in an email to employees obtained by Re/code. “The money we’ve raised is saving lives and bringing hope to people in need. It’s a cause we can all be proud to support.”<br /><br />Taking place over a two-week period, Apple's (Product) RED campaign partnered with app developers who donated proceeds to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. Apple also donated a portion of the company's retail and online sales during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, historically two of the biggest shopping days of the year.</p><h3>Grids for Instagram 2.0 Adds Multiple Account Support</h3><p><a href="http://thegridsapp.com" target="_blank">ThinkTim Creations announced</a> the release of <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grids-experience-instagram/id916198600?mt=12" target="_blank">Grids for Instagram 2.0</a>, a major update to the third-party desktop app that delivers photos from the popular social network onto the Mac. Priced at only $0.99, the update now includes support for multiple Instagram accounts with the ability to seamlessly switch between them, three new layout styles, hotkey and gesture support for browsing, navigation, and like/comment actions, and a big performance improvement that promises faster image loading, resizing, and scrolling. The update is free for existing Grids users, and available now from the Mac App Store.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_apple_pay_heads_europe_20m_product_red_grids_20#commentsNews(PRODUCT) REDApp Storeapp updatesApple Inc.Apple PayChinaEuropeGridsinstagrammac app storeMorning ReportTim CookiPadiPhoneMacThu, 18 Dec 2014 13:14:47 +0000J.R. Bookwalter21101 at http://www.maclife.comMorning Report: Apple's Best of 2014, Change is In the Air, Holiday iTunes Radiohttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_apples_best_2014_change_air_holiday_itunes_radio
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/itunes_store_best_of_2014_620px.png" alt="Best of 2014" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Apple may be putting new App Store releases on hold for the holidays in two weeks, but Cupertino is using that time to celebrate the best of the year. Our Monday Morning Report has the details on some of the content making Apple's Best of 2014 list, a look at Cupertino's new iPad Air 2 commercial, and how to get some free, ad-supported holiday music streamed right to your device.&nbsp;</p><h3>Apple Honors Best iTunes, App Store Content of 2014</h3><p>There's less than a month before 2014 becomes the past, but <a href="https://twitter.com/AppStore/status/541929096394313728" target="_blank">Apple is gearing up for the new year</a> by commemorating the iTunes Store apps, music, movies, TV shows, and books worthy of being awarded Cupertino's highest honor.<br /><br />"Exhilarating, innovative, surprising — this year's standouts reminded us of just how extraordinary apps and games can be. Discover our favorites and explore 2014's chart-toppers," the special <a href="http://tw.appstore.com/AppStoreBestof2014" target="_blank">Best of 2014 section of the App Store</a> reads, with similar highlights posted in the Mac App Store and iTunes Store.<br /><br />Among the handpicked 2014 titles for the U.S. are iPhone App of the Year Elevate — Brain Training, iPad App of the Year Pixelmator, and iPhone Game of the Year Threes! on the App Store, Notability and Tomb Raider for App &amp; Game of the Year on the Mac App Store, <em>Guardians of the Galaxy</em> for Best Blockbuster Movie, <em>Fargo</em> for TV Show of the Year, Taylor Swift's <em>1989</em> for Best Music Album, and <em>All the Light We Cannot See</em> by Anthony Doerr for Best Fiction Book.<br /><br />Each category also has a pair of runner-ups selected, along with an assortment of other highlighted apps, music, TV shows, and books worthy of consideration. Apple has also posted year-end charts for most downloaded and top-grossing iOS apps, including Facebook Messenger for top free iPhone app and YouTube for top free iPad app.</p><h3>Change is In the Air with Apple's Latest iPad Commercial</h3><p>The iPad Air 2 is the star of the show in Apple's newest commercial, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROZhrRm88ms" target="_blank">which hit YouTube on Sunday</a>. The spot shows a variety of ways Cupertino's slimmest tablet is being used in all walks of the life, as the screen gradually shrinks to a tiny sliver to demonstrate just how thin the device actually is.<br /><br />"Change is in the Air. From the studio to the classroom, the field to the garage, iPad Air 2 is helping people discover new and better ways to do the things they love. Imagine what you’ll do with it," reads the description of the one-minute ad.<br /><br />The commercial is also accompanied by <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipad-air-2/change/?cid=www-us-ipad-tv-change" target="_blank">a new iPad Air 2 section of the Apple website</a>, which breaks out "just a few of the hundreds of thousands of apps waiting for you in the App Store" featured in the new ad.<br /><br /><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ROZhrRm88ms" width="620" height="349" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><h3>iTunes Radio Fires Up 10 Holiday-Themed Stations</h3><p>It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and Apple is celebrating with 10 new iTunes Radio stations offering a variety of holiday-themed music; the new stations are Children's Christmas Holiday Sing-Along, Country Holiday, Classical Holiday, Holiday Classics, Holiday Hits, Latin Holiday, Rockin' Holiday, Soulful Holiday, Swingin' Holiday, and The Sounds of Christmas. As always, the stations can be called up using iTunes on Mac or PC, or from the Music app on iOS devices, and iTunes Match subscribers have the added benefit of listening free of the occasional advertisements free users have to endure.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_apples_best_2014_change_air_holiday_itunes_radio#commentsNewsApp StoreApple CommercialsBest of 2014Holidaysipad air 2iTunes RadioiTunes Storemac app storeMorning ReportYouTubeiPadiPhoneiPodMacMon, 08 Dec 2014 13:21:29 +0000J.R. Bookwalter21048 at http://www.maclife.comReview: iTranslate for Machttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/review_itranslate_mac
<!--paging_filter--><p>Austria’s Sonico has had a rich history of creating slick mobile productivity apps since the dawn of the App Store, but has steered clear of the desktop until now. iTranslate for Mac takes everything users love about the classic iOS version and drops it onto the OS X menu bar. Featuring more than 80 different languages, the Mac App Store edition can open automatically at boot-up, ready to be summoned via a mouse click or a user-defined keyboard shortcut.</p><p>As with any machine translation service, iTranslate isn’t always perfect, but it’s quite accurate with the right combination of languages. Popular languages such as English, Spanish, French, and German include dictionary support for common words and phrases, and many supported languages include text-to-speech or voice recognition options. (You can see the complete list of supported languages on Sonico’s website.)</p><p><img src="/files/u332541/2014/11/itranslate_620.png" width="620" height="445" /></p><p>Select source and target languages by clicking the appropriate flag icons. The source can also be set to “Detect Language,” and iTranslate will automatically determine which language to use whenever words or complete phrases are entered; the app fully supports Dictation with OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 or later. Clicking the icon next to any language enables switching between male and female voices or controlling the rate for the resultant text-to-speech; the app also maintains a convenient list of recently used languages, with a search field for easily calling up others in just a few keystrokes.</p><p>Depending on which languages you’re translating, results will also be shown with additional transliteration or definitions below. You can swap between source and target with a click, although this occasionally threw up a “server error occurred” for us. Last but not least, clicking the anchor icon keeps the iTranslate window open, which is quite handy when you’re copying and pasting text from other applications.</p><p>Like the mobile version, iTranslate for Mac requires an active Internet connection for its magic to work, but results appear in the blink of an eye. We’d like to see an option to enable automatic text-to-speech after hitting the Return key, rather than having to click the speaker icon each time. The app could also benefit from additional keyboard shortcuts for common tasks, such as swapping source and target, or perhaps quickly calling up your most-used languages.</p><p><strong>The bottom line.</strong> iTranslate for Mac is an impressive successor to the iOS classic, but we’d like to see a few extra conveniences added with future updates.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iTranslate for Mac</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Sonico GmbH </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.itranslateapp.com" target="_blank">www.itranslateapp.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$9.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>OS X 10.8 or later; 64-bit processor</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Faithful Mac port of venerable iOS classic. Most languages include text-to-speech and voice recognition. Anchor button keeps window open when pasting from other apps.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Requires active Internet connection. No automatic text-to-speech option. Lacks keyboard shortcuts for common tasks. Occasional server error messages.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/review_itranslate_mac#commentsReviewsAppiTranslateLanguagemac app storeSonicoTranslationMacTue, 18 Nov 2014 19:44:32 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20956 at http://www.maclife.comReview: Printworks for Machttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/review_printworks_mac
<!--paging_filter--><p>In the heady days before the Internet and social networking, the original “killer app” for Macintosh was desktop publishing — software that is today primarily aimed at pros (Adobe InDesign, QuarkXpress), or dumbed down for the masses (Pages, Microsoft Word). Into this fertile middle ground comes BeLight Software and its inexpensive new Mac App Store solution.</p><p>Featuring more than 400 professionally designed document templates and over 1,000 print-ready clip art images (with another 40,000 available via $9.99 in-app purchase), Printworks makes short work of brochures, business cards, labels, media inserts, and just about any other kind of page layout needs.</p><p><img src="/files/u332541/2014/11/printworks_620.png" width="620" height="378" /></p><p>The clean UI fits in nicely alongside the likes of Apple’s iWork suite, and anyone who’s used Pages, Numbers, or Keynote will feel right at home here. Full-screen and Retina support also make Printworks a good OS X citizen, along with easy image import from iPhoto and Aperture (JPG, PNG, TIFF, PDF, and EPS files can also be used).</p><p>Printworks for Mac doesn’t skimp on high-end features like layers, smart shapes, and built-in image filters, or the ability to insert editable tables, calendars, or popular barcodes, including retail-ready UPC or QR codes. Output options are limited, although the current PDF, TIFF, JPG, PNG, or EPS export options will be plenty for users with less discriminating color management needs.</p><p>For a version 1 release, Printworks is an exceptional bargain — a well-crafted app that breathes new life into the creative possibilities for modern Mac owners.</p><p><strong>The bottom line.</strong> Printworks is a slick throwback to a bygone era of Mac desktop publishing, serving up a robust palette of page layout tools in an attractive, affordable package.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Printworks for Mac 1.0.2</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
BeLight Software </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.belightsoft.com" target="_blank">www.belightsoft.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$49.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>OS X 10.8 or later; 64-bit processor</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Robust desktop publishing software for a new generation. Built-in tools for barcodes, tables, and calendars. Rich selection of templates and clip art.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>No document import from Swift Publisher or other DTP applications. Frequent crashes when moving windows from certain templates. Basic image import and file export options.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/review_printworks_mac#commentsReviewsBeLightdesktop publishingmac app storePrintworksPrintworks for MacproductivityMacTue, 11 Nov 2014 18:43:20 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20921 at http://www.maclife.comMorning Report: Deregister iMessage, Pangu iOS 8 Jailbreak, Calcbot for Machttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_deregister_imessage_pangu_ios_8_jailbreak_calcbot_mac
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/deregister_imessage_620px.png" alt="Deregister iMessage" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Apple is kicking the week off on an upbeat note, at least for former iPhone owners who have been suffering with the loss of SMS text messages after forgetting to disable iMessage. Our Monday Morning Report has the details on a new web app for correcting this issue, along with a new jailbreak for iOS 8 and the arrival of another beloved mobile app making the jump to Mac OS X.&nbsp;</p><h3>Need to Turn Off iMessage? There's Now a (Web) App for That</h3><p>While iMessage may be super convenient for iPhone users, those who have attempted to leave Apple's clutches have found it's not so easy to keep receiving SMS text messages on their new smartphone. If you've made the switch and forgot to toggle iMessage off before getting rid of that iPhone, <a href="https://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage" target="_blank">Apple now has a web tool just for you</a>.<br /><br />The new Deregister iMessage web tool makes it easy to enter an existing phone number, which will send a free text message to the new device containing a six-digit code. Enter this confirmation number on the website, click Submit, and your number will then unshackled from the iMessage system.<br /><br />The free web tool provides welcome relief for iPhone refugees, who have been experiencing issues leaving the Apple fold since 2011, when iMessage made its triumphant debut with iOS 5.</p><h3>iOS 8-Friendly Pangu Jailbreak Now Available for Mac</h3><p>Although Apple has largely eliminated the need to jailbreak iOS devices with recent operating system releases thanks to support for third-party keyboards, widgets, and even carrier-unlocked iPhones, development of the tools necessary to install custom software outside of the App Store continues.<br /><br />The latest tool is <a href="https://en.pangu.io" target="_blank">Pangu</a>, a Mac or Windows jailbreak solution released over the weekend which allows untethered compatibility with all devices running iOS 8 or iOS 8.1 — including the latest iPhone 6, iPad Air 2, and iPad mini 3 models. Pangu is the first such tool to accomplish this feat, allowing unsanctioned third-party tweaks from Cydia and other sources to be freely installed without the need for connecting the device to a computer after each reboot.</p><p>Just remember — jailbreaking your device could cause significantly heightened security risks.</p><h3>Made for Yosemite, Calcbot Arrives on Mac App Store</h3><p>Another popular iPhone app has made the leap from smartphones to the Mac with the release of <a href="http://tapbots.com/software/calcbot/mac/" target="_blank">Calbot</a>, an "intelligent calculator and unit converter for the rest of us." Like the iOS version, Calcbots comes from Tapbots, the creators of Tweetbot, and offers an extensive range of features you won't find on Apple's built-in Calculator app.<br /><br />For starters, Calcbot includes a history tape, which saves every calculation for referring to them again later or even pasting from the clipboard, along with an original expression view that removes any doubt about what you've entered into the app. Calcbot also supports a full range of scientific functions for math geeks including constants such as Pi or Atomic Mass, as well as favorites that can be recalled without cryptic memory keys.<br /><br /><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/calcbot-intelligent-calculator/id931657367?mt=12" target="_blank">Calcbot is available exclusively from the Mac App Store for $4.99</a>, and includes support for iCloud sync, which keeps your history tape, constants, and favorites available between different Mac computers, and soon iOS devices with a forthcoming update for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_deregister_imessage_pangu_ios_8_jailbreak_calcbot_mac#commentsNewsApple Inc.CalcbotcalculatoriMessageiOS 8iOS 8.1jailbreakmac app storeMorning ReportPanguSMS messagingweb toolsiPadiPhoneiPodMacMon, 10 Nov 2014 13:23:13 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20916 at http://www.maclife.comMorning Report: TLC Nixed from iPhone 6, Pixelmator for Mac 3.3, Amazon Echohttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_tlc_nixed_iphone_6_pixelmator_mac_33_amazon_echo
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/iphone_6_two_models_620px.png" alt="iPhone 6 two models" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Ever wish you could have one or more devices around your home capable of answering questions whenever the whim strikes? Our Friday Morning Report has the details on Amazon's latest hardware endeavor, as well as what steps Apple may be taking to stomp out NAND flash storage issues with the iPhone 6, plus the release of Pixelmator for Mac 3.3.</p><h3>Apple May Drop TLC NAND Flash Storage After iPhone 6 Issues</h3><p>[<strong>Update:</strong> This rumor appears to be false. A source close to Apple tells us there is no defect in the components from Anobit, and that Apple has no plans to drop triple-cell NAND flash storage. How do crazy rumors like this get started? Well, our source claims that BusinessKorea, which published the original story, has ties to Samsung. Yikes.]</p><p><a href="http://businesskorea.co.kr/article/7172/resolution-apple-change-controller-ic-nand-flash-used-iphone-6-iphone-6" target="_blank">BusinessKorea today reported</a> that Apple may be eyeing a switch away from triple-cell (TLC) NAND flash storage, which is allegedly responsible for the "functional defects" experienced by owners of the 64GB and 128GB iPhone 6 models. The problem, which Apple has yet to acknowledge, reportedly stems from the controller IC made by former SSD supplier Anobit, which the iPhone maker absorbed in 2011.<br /><br />TLC NAND flash is more affordable than multi-level cell (MLC) solid-state flash memory, and is capable of holding three bits of data per cell — three times that of traditional single-level cell (SLC) and 1.5 times the capacity of MLC. According to the report, the tradeoff is that TLC is actually slower at read/write operations than the lower-capacity storage types.<br /><br />There's apparently hope for current iPhone 6 users suffering from flash storage-related problems: The forthcoming iOS 8.1.1 update currently being tested by developers is expected to provide some relief by improving "products already equipped with TLC NAND." Apple also reportedly plans to switch to MLC NAND flash for newly assembled 64GB iPhone 6 and 128GB iPhone 6 Plus models.</p><h3>Pixelmator for Mac 3.3 Adds Yosemite, Handoff Support</h3><p>The folks behind Pixelmator received plenty of acclaim for bringing their image-editing software to the iPad last month, but they haven't forgotten their roots. On Thursday, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator/id407963104?mt=12" target="_blank">the company released Pixelmator 3.3 to the Mac App Store</a>, a significant update to the $29.99 application which adds full support for OS X Yosemite along with a redesigned user interface.<br /><br />In addition to its new good looks, Pixelmator for Mac 3.3 adds support for iCloud Drive along with a new Repair tool extension, which allows users to quickly fix images in other compatible applications like Mail or TextEdit. Last but not least, the Mac version now supports Handoff with the iPad edition for seamlessly working between desktop and tablet. The update is available for existing users absolutely free from the Mac App Store.</p><h3>Amazon Echo Aims to Be Like Siri in a Box</h3><p>It's hard to beat the convenience of Siri, especially when most of us have our iPhone or iPad close at hand — but Amazon thinks they can do one better. Yesterday, the e-tailer announced <a href="http://www.amazon.com/oc/echo/ref_=ods_dp_ae" target="_blank">Amazon Echo</a>, a cylindrical black tube that promises to be "always ready, connected, and fast" when answering your questions. Featuring far-field voice recognition for the information-providing "Alexa," the device also doubles as an "expertly-tuned speaker that can fill any room with immersive sound."<br /><br />Ironically, Amazon Echo can be controlled from a free companion app on a Kindle Fire, Fire Phone, or Android device, but iOS devices require using a web browser (which also works on the desktop) for managing alarms, music, shopping lists, and more. The cloud-connected Echo is priced at $199, but Amazon Prime members can save $100 for a limited time only — but you'll need to request an invitation, which may or may not arrive "in the coming weeks," and only then can you warm up the credit card.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_tlc_nixed_iphone_6_pixelmator_mac_33_amazon_echo#commentsNewsAmazon Echoflash storageHandoffiCloud Driveiphone 6iPhone 6 Plusmac app storeMorning ReportNANDPixelmatorSiriiPhoneMacFri, 07 Nov 2014 13:29:15 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20902 at http://www.maclife.comMorning Report: Mac App Store Makeover, Beats Innovation at School, NTFS 12http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_mac_app_store_makeover_beats_innovation_school_ntfs_12
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/mac_app_store_yosemite_ui_620px.png" alt="Mac App Store Yosemite UI" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Students with their eye on the University of Southern California have yet another good reason to attend: A recently launched undergraduate academy founded by the creative minds behind Beats Electronics. Our Thursday Morning Report has the 411 on what to expect, as well as a look at the new Yosemitzed Mac App Store user interface, and details on Paragon's latest NTFS for Mac 12 update.</p><h3>Mac App Store Receives Stealth Yosemite Makeover</h3><p>OS X Yosemite has only been in the hands of Mac owners for just shy of three weeks, and now the Mac App Store is catching up to the operating system's new look and feel. <a href="http://9to5mac.com/2014/11/05/mac-app-store-yosemite/" target="_blank">As first noted by 9to5Mac on Wednesday evening</a>, Apple has quietly rolled out a facelift for the Mac storefront, with the same thinner fonts and more compact layout we all know and love in Yosemite.<br /><br />There's no actual software update involved in the Mac App Store makeover — Apple simply flipped a switch to start pushing new code to the existing application following a few hours of back and forth last night. Fire up your own Mac App Store and have a look!</p><h3>Beats Co-Founders Launch School for Innovation at USC</h3><p>Beats co-founders Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine are making headlines again, this time in <a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/dr-dre-and-jimmy-iovines-school-for-innovation-1415238722" target="_blank">a <em>Wall Street Journal</em> interview published Wednesday </a>where the latest Apple executives discuss a new undergraduate academy the pair have launched at the University of Southern California with a rather tongue-twisting name: The USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and Business of Innovation.<br /><br />The academy launched in 2013 with a $70 million gift from the Beats tastemakers in an effort to meld the worlds of technology and liberal arts — coincidentally, a frequent goal of the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.<br /><br />“We wanted to build a school that we feel is what the entertainment industry needs right now,” Iovine explained. “There’s a new kid in town, and he’s brought up on an iPad from one and a half years old. But the problem with some of the companies up north [in Silicon Valley] is that they really are culturally inept. I’ve been shocked at the different species in Northern and Southern California — we don’t even speak the same language. The kid who’s going to have an advantage in the entertainment industry today is the kid who speaks both languages: technology and liberal arts. That’s what this school is about."<br /><br />The full story also includes background on how Dre and Iovine came to launch Beats, which was recently acquired by Apple for $3 billion following months of rumors.</p><h3>Paragon Unleashes NTFS for Mac 12, Free Update from Previous Version</h3><p>One universal file system to rule them all? <a href="http://www.paragon-software.com/company/pressroom/pressreleases.html?id=0186&amp;year=2014" target="_blank">Paragon Software Group seems to think it's possible with the release of NTFS for Mac 12</a>, the company's latest cross-platform solution that delivers high-speed access to read or write Windows NTFS drives on Mac OS X. Fully compatible with OS X Yosemite, the native drivers included with NTFS for Mac 12 are said to reach read/write speeds of 120MB per second when using USB 3.0 external storage media, making the software the fastest available for Mac.<br /><br />Priced at $19.95, NTFS for Mac 12 is only one piece of a much larger "universal file system driver" line for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android platforms. Mac users can download the software for 10 days absolutely free to take it for a test drive, and the good news is that existing NTFS for Mac OS X 11 owners qualify for a free upgrade to the latest version.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_mac_app_store_makeover_beats_innovation_school_ntfs_12#commentsNewsBeats ElectronicsDr. DreJimmy Iovinemac app storeMorning ReportNTFSOS X YosemiteParagonschoolsSoftware UpdatesUSCMacThu, 06 Nov 2014 13:38:43 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20895 at http://www.maclife.comMorning Report: Bono Apologizes to iTunes Users, 27-Inch Retina Mac This Year?http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_bono_apologizes_itunes_users_27inch_retina_mac_year
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/grids_620px.png" alt="Grids" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>If you're in the market for a new 27-inch iMac with a gorgeous new Retina Display, we may have some good news for you, courtesy of one analyst with a pretty good track record for such predictions. Our Wednesday Morning Report also includes an apology from U2 frontman Bono for pushing that free album on iTunes users, as well as a peek at a new Mac app for Instagram. Click, read, and enjoy!</p><h3>Analyst Predicts 27-Inch Retina iMac, Short Supply of iPad Air 2</h3><p><a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/15/ipad-air-2-supply-constrained/" target="_blank">MacRumors reported late Tuesday</a> that the iPad Air 2 model widely expected to launch at an Apple media event tomorrow may be hard to find at launch due to constrained shipments caused by the "poor yield rate of anti-reflective coating cover lens." As a result, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted Apple may only ship seven to nine million units of the refreshed tablet, a noticeable dip from last year's model. Apple is also apparently devoting less resources to a refreshed iPad mini, which Kuo blames on the rumored 12.9-inch iPad model rumored to make its debut next year.<br /><br />One highly anticipated product Kuo expects to launch by the end of 2014 is a 27-inch iMac with Retina Display, which could be introduced during the same Apple media event on Thursday morning where a final release date for OS X Yosemite is expected. Unfortunately, fans of the 21-inch iMac may have to wait until the second half of 2015 to see a Retina Display version of the smaller desktop model, citing the difficulty of developing high-resolution panels of two different sizes at the same time.</p><h3>Bono Says Sorry About Forcing That New U2 Album on You</h3><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153458076501686&amp;set=vb.5678046685&amp;type=2&amp;theater" target="_blank">Facebook posted an interview with the members of U2 on Tuesday</a>, where Bono and company answered questions from fans. During the nearly six-minute video, the subject inevitably turned to Apple's recent promotion of the band's new album "Songs of Innocence," which caused a bit of controversy after being automatically pushed to the devices of 500 million iTunes users following last month's iPhone 6 event.<br /><br />"Oops...um...I'm sorry about that," Bono apologized. "I had this beautiful idea and we got carried away with ourselves. Artists are prone to that kind of thing — drop of megalomania, touch of generosity, dash of self-promotion, and deep fear that these songs that we poured our life into over the last few years might not be heard. There's a lot of noise out there. I guess we got a little noisy ourselves to get through it."</p><h3>Grids Delivers Instagram Photos to Mac</h3><p>Tired of having your Instagram photos chained to mobile devices? ThinkTime Creations LLC announced Tuesday the release of <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/grids-present-instagram-photos/id916198600?ls=1&amp;mt=12" target="_blank">Grids</a>, a Mac App Store solution that presents Instagram images in a clean, adaptive user interface that works equally well as a window the size of a widget as it does in full screen. Priced at only $1.99 for a limited time, Grids allows Instagram users to adjust picture size, spacing, and background color in addition to the usual like, comment, follow, tag, and search functionality.<br /><br />One unique feature with Grids is the ability to bookmark Instagram users without actually having to follow them, in addition to locations, tags, or even individual photos without having to like them first. Users can also be notified when feed updates are available. One thing Grids can't do is actually upload photos to Instagram, but that's a limitation of all third-party apps. Grids is now available from the Mac App Store, but grab it quickly before the price goes up.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_bono_apologizes_itunes_users_27inch_retina_mac_year#commentsNews27-inch iMacanalystsBonofree musicGridsinstagramipad air 2iTunesmac app storeMorning Reportretina displayU2iPadMacWed, 15 Oct 2014 12:26:48 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20784 at http://www.maclife.comMorning Report: iPhone 6 Display Woes, Quicken 2015 for Mac, iWork Updateshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_iphone_6_display_woes_quicken_2015_mac_iwork_updates
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/quicken_2015_for_mac_620px.png" alt="Quicken 2015 for Mac" width="620" height="299" /></p><p>Judging from a "hot off the presses" report straight from Apple's supply chain, prospective iPhone 6 buyers might want to line up even earlier this year, as the smartphone is rumored to suffer a production setback. Meanwhile, the company's iWork apps received minor updates Thursday, and venerable financial software Quicken makes a triumphant return to the Mac in today's Morning Report.</p><h3>Redesigned Display Panel Blamed for iPhone 6 Launch Woes</h3><p>Although Apple appears to be playing it cool from the outside, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/22/us-apple-iphone-idUSKBN0GM0N620140822" target="_blank">Reuters today reported</a> the company's Asian supply chain vendors are apparently "scrambling" to come up with enough screens for Cupertino's new iPhone 6 ahead of the rumored launch next month. Unnamed sources claim the snafu was caused by the redesign of a "key component" of the display panel, which is apparently serious enough for Apple to consider limiting the number of units available at launch, or possibly delaying the launch altogether.<br /><br />"Two supply chain sources said display panel production suffered a setback after the backlight that helps illuminate the screen had to be revised, putting screen assembly on hold for part of June and July," the report noted, adding that Apple is attempting to create "the thinnest phone possible" by consolidating two layers of backlight film into one.<br /><br />According to sources, Cupertino's ambitions may have reached a hair too far in this case, with the backlight on the rumored 4.7-inch handset failing to live up to expectations, "costing precious time and temporarily idling some screen assembly operations." Things are back on track now, but the ripple effects may be felt next month as consumers once again line up to purchase Apple's latest and greatest.</p><h3>Quicken for Mac Returns with Mobile-Friendly 2015 Edition</h3><p>Intuit announced Thursday the immediate availability of <a href="http://www.quicken.com/mac" target="_blank">Quicken 2015 for Mac</a>, a long-gestating revamp of the company's money management application. The first new version of Quicken for Mac in years, the 2015 edition shines a spotlight on mobile, with free smartphone and tablet apps capable of syncing to the desktop edition for keeping tabs on personal finances from anywhere there's an internet connection. The apps also allow Quicken users to snap photos of receipts while on the go.<br /><br />Quicken 2015 for Mac also includes new investment tools for continuously updated portfolio values, capital gains estimates, and tracking of cost basis. With a fresh new user interface and the ability to import data from earlier Quicken Essentials for Mac, Quicken Mac 2007 or even Quicken 2010 for Windows or newer, the $74.99 downloadable software comes with a 60-day, money-back guarantee and the ability to export data directly to Intuit's TurboTax.</p><h3>iWork for iOS, Mac Apps Receive Minor Bug Fix Updates</h3><p>Apple was busy Thursday pushing out minor updates to its iWork apps for iOS and Mac, as well as <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id408981434?mt=12" target="_blank">iMovie 10.0.5 for Mac</a>, which specifically included "iCloud compatibility improvements for iMovie Theater." As for the others — <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pages/id409201541?mt=12" target="_blank">Pages for Mac</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id361309726?mt=8" target="_blank">Pages for iOS</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/numbers/id409203825?mt=12" target="_blank">Numbers for Mac</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id361304891?mt=8" target="_blank">Numbers for iOS</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/keynote/id409183694?mt=12" target="_blank">Keynote for Mac</a>, and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id361285480?mt=8" target="_blank">Keynote for iOS</a> — Cupertino followed up the larger updates released in April with the typically vague "stability improvements and bug fixes" patches yesterday. But fear not, presumably larger updates are ahead this fall, given that OS X Yosemite is on the horizon...<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_iphone_6_display_woes_quicken_2015_mac_iwork_updates#commentsNewsApp StoreiMovieIntuitiphone 6iWorklaunch delaysmac app storeMorning ReportQuickenReuterssupply chainiPhoneMacFri, 22 Aug 2014 12:12:01 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20514 at http://www.maclife.comMorning Report: Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac Upgrade, Dubai's Big Apple Storehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_parallels_desktop_10_mac_upgrade_dubais_big_apple_store
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/xp_win7_win8_on_mavericks_620px.png" alt="Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>If you have a need to run Windows on your Mac, today's Morning Report has all the details on a major new upgrade to one of the best solutions for doing just that, along with rumors of the world's largest Apple retail store, and new updates to Cupertino's pro video applications thrown in for good measure. Read on to find out more!</p><h3>Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac Upgrade Ready for OS X Yosemite</h3><p>OS X Yosemite may not be out until late October, but the folks at Parallels are getting a jump on Apple's next desktop operating system with an upgrade of their own today. Now up to 50 percent faster with a Yosemite-style makeover, <a href="http://www.parallels.com/upgradepd10/" target="_blank">Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac</a> promises to deliver OS X 10.10 features including iCloud Drive, iMessage, and SMS text sharing to Mac users running Windows on the same system. The update also delivers big improvements to Spotlight and Quick Look when viewing files in virtual machines.<br /><br />The virtualization software is also laser focused on performance with version 10, thanks to real-time virtual disk optimization. Snapshots are now up to 60 percent faster, Windows documents can be opened 48 percent faster, and Office 2013 launches up to 50 percent faster, all while extending battery life on MacBooks by up to 30 percent. It's also easier than ever to get started, with one-click configuration for a variety of usage scenarios, and the ability to drag and drop an installer to create a new VM.<br /><br />Last but not least, Windows VMs gain Mac-like Save to and Share services, support for three-button mice, the option to display Windows 8's Start screen as Launchpad, unread email indicator for Windows Outlook, and the ability to insert special characters from the Edit menu.<br /><br />The full version of Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac will be available next Tuesday for $79.99, while the $49.99 upgrade edition is <a href="http://www.parallels.com/upgradepd10/" target="_blank">now available for download</a>; a Student edition will also be available for $39.99.</p><h3>Dubai May Soon Have World's Largest Apple Retail Store</h3><p><a href="http://edgardaily.com/exclusive-dubais-mall-of-the-emirates-to-get-worlds-biggest-apple-store/" target="_blank">EDGAR Daily reported Tuesday</a> that Apple is planning a new retail store located at Dubai's Mall of the Emirates, and it may just be Cupertino's "biggest store in the world." The location will mark the first flagship store in the Middle East, and Dubai is certainly well-known for its Texas-sized ambitions. According to an unnamed source, Apple is eyeing space currently occupied by a large cinema complex, with an opening planned in the first quarter of next year. Local media has already picked up on the fact that Apple is apparently hiring 13 positions for the retail outlet, including "business managers, store leaders, inventory specialists, technical leads and even iTunes interns."</p><h3>Apple Fixes Blu-ray Issues with Mac Pro Video Updates</h3><p>Apple released fresh updates to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id424389933?mt=12" target="_blank">Final Cut Pro X</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/compressor/id424390742?mt=12" target="_blank">Compressor 4</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id434290957?mt=12" target="_blank">Motion 5</a> on Tuesday, with all three Mac pro video solutions addressing a reliability issue when burning a Blu-ray disc or creating a disk image of the same format. Available from the Mac App Store's Updates tab, Final Cut Pro X 10.1.3 also makes sure that color corrections pasted between clips are retained during Share, retains effects applied to clips in the Browser for prior versions, correctly imports XML files that include gap clips during a round trip, and improves reliability of automatic library backups and skimming growing files in the Browser.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_parallels_desktop_10_mac_upgrade_dubais_big_apple_store#commentsNewsApple Retail StoresDubaiFinal Cut Pro Xmac app storeMorning ReportOS X YosemiteParallels Desktop 10windowsMacWed, 20 Aug 2014 12:53:07 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20503 at http://www.maclife.comMorning Report: iWatch Predictions Cut Short, Modbook Pro X, Printworkshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_iwatch_predictions_cut_short_modbook_pro_x_printworks
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/modbook_pro_x_620px.png" alt="Modbook Pro X" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Have your heart set on an iWatch later this year? Analysts have been keeping a close eye on Apple's supply chain lately, and it seems production issues may keep the wearable from shipping in significant numbers before the end of the year. Elsewhere on the web, you can now convert a MacBook Pro into a tablet, and a new desktop publishing application hits the Mac App Store in today's Morning Report.</p><h3>Analyst: Apple May Only Ship 3M iWatches This Year</h3><p><a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/07/31/apple-likely-to-ship-only-3-million-iwatch-units-this-year-analyst-ming-chi-kuo-says" target="_blank">AppleInsider reported Thursday</a> the "well-connected" analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is backing off earlier claims of a massive iWatch launch later this year. In a note to investors, the KGI Securities analyst threw cold water on leading speculation that Apple plans to ship "between five million and 10 million" wearables by the end of 2014, citing production issues that will push availability into "the second half of November," thereby dramatically reducing the number of available units to something more like three million.<br /><br />Like the rumored 5.5-inch iPhone 6, sapphire crystal shortages are also being blamed for the reduced iWatch shipments, with traditional glass covers now expected to replace sapphire on "at least half" of the iWatch units that do manage to hit stores.</p><h3>Modbook Pro X Turns Retina MacBook Into Full-Fledged Tablet</h3><p>The folks at Modbook have been turning Mac products into tablets for years now, but <a href="http://www.modbook.com/modbook-pro-x-kickstarter" target="_blank">this week they've launched</a> their most ambitious modification to date: Modbook Pro X, which converts a 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display into a gorgeous, powerful slate complete with pen input device. <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/modbook/modbook-pro-x-154-retina-quad-core-mac-os-x-tablet" target="_blank">Available exclusively on Kickstarter</a> for now, backers will have to provide their own MacBook Pro, which will be converted into a Modbook Pro X for as little as $1999. The bad news is, Modbook won't be ready to ship these babies until early 2015, which will be powered by OS X Yosemite and promise full compatibility, just like the original notebook.</p><h3>PrintWorks for Mac Aims to Bring Desktop Publishing to Masses</h3><p>Desktop publishing may no longer be the Mac's "killer app" in the internet and social networking era, but Belight Software this week unleashed a powerful new application that aims to make page layout fun all over again. <a href="http://www.belightsoft.com/products/printworks/overview.php" target="_blank">Printworks for Mac</a> includes more than 400 templates for creating brochures, flyers, business cards, discs and covers, labels and envelopes or greeting cards, along with more than 1,000 pieces of clipart for customizing the look and feel.<br /><br />Available from the Mac App Store, Printworks includes robust features including a built-in photo editor with more than 80 image filters, and the ability to import from iPhoto or Aperture as well as custom folders. Finished projects can be printed or exported to popular formats including PDF, TIFF, JPEG, and EPS. A free trial of Printworks is available from the Belight website, and the software is on sale <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/printworks/id868096541?mt=12" target="_blank">from the Mac App Store</a> for only $29.99, a 40 percent discount off the usual $49.95 price.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_iwatch_predictions_cut_short_modbook_pro_x_printworks#commentsNewsanalystsiWatchmac app storeMacBook Pro with Retina DisplayModbook Pro XMorning ReportPrintworksshipmentsMacFri, 01 Aug 2014 12:30:03 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20406 at http://www.maclife.comMorning Report: iPhone 6 possibly hitting in October, Shazam for Mac, Beats Migration Beginshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_iphone_6_possibly_hitting_october_shazam_mac_beats_migration_begins
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/shazam_for_mac_620px.png" alt="Shazam for Mac" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>There have been countless rumors about the release date of the iPhone 6, but has the elusive day finally been identified? As far as we're concerned, Apple's latest and greatest smartphone can't hit soon enough. We've also got news regarding updates to two popular apps, plus lots of behind-the-scenes rumblings at Beats as their acquisition by Apple comes ever closer to finalization.</p><h3>Apple May Have Busy October Ahead, Starting with iPhone 6</h3><p><a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2014/07/31/iphone-6-october-14-incredibly-busy-month/" target="_blank">MacRumors today reported</a> that Apple may be shifting its smartphone release strategy from years part, with insider sources claiming the iPhone 6 could launch Tuesday, October 14. The rumor comes straight from an "internal Apple Retail Store meeting" where a senior Store Leader referred to the above date as an "immense" day for Cupertino, elaborating that the entire month of October would be a "very busy" time for Apple and its fleet of retail locations.<br /><br />Prior to now, most analysts have predicted a September launch for iPhone 6 and iOS 8, with October slotted for OS X Yosemite, a potential iPad refresh and possibly even the fabled iWatch wearable. There's no word on whether the iPhone 6 launch will include both 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models, but the same source claims Apple will have "an ample supply" of hardware available, which could be part of Cupertino's motivation for shifting the launch from its traditional Friday slot.</p><h3>1Password Preparing for iOS 8</h3><p>The makers of 1Password&nbsp;<a href="http://blog.agilebits.com/2014/07/30/introducing-the-1password-app-extension-for-ios-8-apps/" target="_blank">sent out a call to fellow developers Wednesday</a>&nbsp;with a brief video demonstrating how the company's new app extension will make life easier when iOS 8 launches this fall. Featuring automatic login fill for third-party apps and Touch ID support, developers can supposedly add support with a minimum of effort. Speaking of which, another popular iOS app just made the leap to Mac today....</p><h3>Shazam Makes Leap to Mac OS X as Menu Bar Application</h3><p><a href="http://news.shazam.com/pressreleases/shazam-for-mac-now-that-s-magic-1035834" target="_blank">Shazam today announced</a> Shazam for Mac, a free Mac App Store menubar application that offers the same music and TV show recognition service from mobile devices on OS X. "Shazam for Mac runs quietly behind the scenes, but springs to life when it finds a song, show, or ad you should know about, creating a playlist as it goes," the company explained in a press release Thursday. "Mac users can now effortlessly find it, share it, and buy it. Shazam also provides instant access to lyrics and more tracks by the artists you discover." <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shazam/id897118787?l=fr&amp;mt=12" target="_blank">Shazam for Mac</a> is now available from the Mac App Store.</p><h3><span style="font-size: 1.17em;">Beats Electronics Staff Shuffled Ahead of Acquisition</span></h3><p><a href="http://9to5mac.com/2014/07/30/heads-rolling-at-beats-as-apple-eliminating-redundant-positions-keeping-developers-and-creatives-in-la/" target="_blank">9to5Mac reported Wednesday</a> that Apple has started the process of transitioning Beats Electronics into the fold ahead of the acquisition, which is expected to close sometime in the next two months. Unfortunately for employees in Beats' support, finance, and HR departments, the transition means redundancy, with many such workers reportedly laid off in recent weeks and others "offered positions until the end of January 2015."<br /><br />The Beats hardware team will largely transfer over to Cupertino unscathed, while "select engineers" from the Beats Music team will remain in Santa Monica. A source close to the proceedings claims that Beats chief creative officer Trent Reznor and Beats Music CEO Ian Rogers will also join Apple, although it's not yet clear in what capacity.<br /><br />Last but not least, Apple has apparently started the process of transitioning the Beats Music streaming technology into its own "iTunes infrastructure," but sources cite compatibility issues which may require additional work on Beats Music in the near future.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_iphone_6_possibly_hitting_october_shazam_mac_beats_migration_begins#commentsNews1Passwordapp extensionsBeats ElectronicsBeats MusiciOS 8iphone 6mac app storeMorning ReportOctoberShazamiPhoneMacThu, 31 Jul 2014 12:38:25 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20398 at http://www.maclife.comOvernight Recap: iPhone 6 Orders, iTranslate for Mac, Misfit Beddit Sleep Systemhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_iphone_6_orders_itranslate_mac_misfit_beddit_sleep_system
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/itranslate_for_mac_620px.png" alt="iTranslate for Mac" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Why should a mobile hotspot be limited to only a single task? That seems to be the question on Sprint's mind as they introduce LivePro, a $449.99 jack-of-all-trades, which includes a mini projector, media streamer, and backup battery on top of the aforementioned hotspot capabilities. <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/9/5882515/sprint-livepro-mobile-hotspot-projector" target="_blank">According to The Verge</a>, Sprint's LivePro is available today, so you can rush out and buy one right after finishing up the morning recap...</p><h3>Apple May Be Planning "Unprecedented" Orders for iPhone 6</h3><p><a href="http://www.gforgames.com/gadgets/iphone-6-unprecedented-orders-mass-production-44390/" target="_blank">GforGames headed back to the iPhone 6 rumor mill again Thursday</a>, dredging up <a href="http://www.businessweekly.com.tw/KIndepArticle.aspx?ID=22818&amp;path=h" target="_blank">a report from Taiwan's Business Weekly</a> that claims Apple may be preparing an "unprecedented" number of orders for the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch handsets, with mass production kicking off sometime this month. While it's unclear if the number is for both models or only one, the latest estimate is "at least 68 million units," which breaks down to about double what Cupertino summoned up for the iPhone 5 nearly two years ago. Presumably that number means Apple executives are confident with the device(s), which will hopefully be in plentiful supply come September or October.</p><h3>iTranslate Jumps from iOS to Mac, 50% Off for Limited Time</h3><p>Sonico's <a href="http://www.itranslateapp.com" target="_blank">iTranslate</a> apps for iOS are one of the best ways to communicate with foreign-language speakers, and on Thursday the company finally made the a bold leap from mobile to desktop with <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/itranslate-translator-dictionary/id884952790?mt=12" target="_blank">iTranslate for Mac</a>. Available in the Mac App Store at a 50 discount at launch ($4.99), iTranslate delivers words, phrases, and text in more than 80 languages, expanding on the more limited iOS experience by offering output for different dialects in male or female voices. Last but not least, iTranslate for Mac includes multiple dictionaries to make sure translations are understood the way they were intended.</p><h3>Misfit Debuts Beddit Sleep System with iOS Integration</h3><p>Having trouble sleeping at night? Together with your iPhone, <a href="http://blog.misfitwearables.com/?p=857" target="_blank">Misfit's Beddit Sleep System</a> can get to the bottom of what's going on as you slumber with a wide range of sleep tracking features including the world's thinnest sleep sensor that doesn't require users to actually wear a thing. Instead, a paper-thin device sits directly on the mattress just under your sheets, wirelessly transmitting data to a connected iPhone (and soon, Android device) using the existing Misfit app. Beddit can tell you how long you're sleeping, what your heart rate was during sleep, and even keep track of ambient sound or snoring, with a smart alarm that promises to wake up users more refreshed than ever. The Beddit Sleep System ships next week for $149.99.</p><h3>Adobe Debuts Creative Cloud Market for Curated Assets</h3><p>Adobe this week <a href="http://blogs.adobe.com/behance/2014/07/09/announcing-creative-cloud-market/" target="_blank">announced the launch of Creative Cloud Market</a>, billed as "a collection of high-quality, curated assets for creatives, by creatives." Whether you're looking for vector graphics, icons, patterns, user interface kits, or even entire images, Creative Cloud Market offers up to 500 unique assets each month with a paid membership (not including the $9.99 per month Photoshop Photography Plan). At the moment, Creative Cloud Market only works from the Mac or PC desktop, but Adobe is planning to launch iOS and browser-based versions in the future.</p><h3>MOS Eyes Kickstarter Stretch Goal for Reach Power Plug</h3><p>The Magnetic Organization System (MOS) is down to their last 15 days of a <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1578125715/mos-reach-power-everywhere?ref=home_location" target="_blank">Kickstarter campaign for the MOS Reach</a>, a unique three or five-foot power supply built with today's notebook computers and USB-powered devices in mind. Available in white or black, the MOS Reach features a single three-prong AC power jack along with two USB ports capable of charging iPhone or iPad. Reach is intended to supply power to desks and other frequently hard-to-reach areas, and includes magnets inside to keep the ends of USB charging cables securely in place when not in use. MOS managed to soar past their $50,000 goal in the first day, and has now more than doubled that amount with a new stretch goal ending Saturday, July 26.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_iphone_6_orders_itranslate_mac_misfit_beddit_sleep_system#commentsNewsAdobe Creative CloudBeddit Sleep Systemiphone 6iTranslatemac app storeMisfitMOS Reachovernight recapSprintiPhoneMacFri, 11 Jul 2014 11:30:00 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20297 at http://www.maclife.comSouth Korea Forcing Apple, Google to Abandon No-Refund Policieshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/south_korea_forcing_apple_google_abandon_norefund_policies
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/app_store_icon_angled_620px.png" alt="App Store icon angled" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Since the dawn of the App Store, Apple has protected developers (and their own business interests) by outlawing refunds, but that policy could soon find itself in the crosshairs.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140706000270" target="_blank"><em>The Korea Herald</em> reported Sunday</a> that both Apple and Google are being accused of "unfair provisions" over the lack of refund options for their respective App Store and Google Play storefronts.<br /><br />According to South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), the two mobile app titans will be required to offer a "customer refund system based on web developers' refund policies," an order which Google appears to already be in the process of carrying out in that country.<br /><br />“While Google will limit its response to the KFTC to the domestic market, Apple said it would consider applying the revised contract terms globally,” said Hwang Won-chul, the head of the KFTC's Adhesion Contract Division.<br /><br />The antitrust pressure came after "continued requests" from the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice, a civic group in South Korea who first asked the FTC to investigate what they call "unfair sales practices of domestic and foreign mobile app stores" back in March.<br /><br />Citing potentially "unfair sales practice," the KFTC is also investigating a complaint against Apple, claiming "users are not able to get their original phones back from repair shops after they have their phones repaired" — apparently a reference to Apple's policy of replacing a device with a refurbished model, rather than sending it in for repair.<br /><br />Although it is Apple's stated policy not to refund App Store purchases, Cupertino apparently will do so in many cases for users who contact support via the "Report a Problem" link from an iTunes email receipt.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p><em>(Image couresy of TUAW)</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/south_korea_forcing_apple_google_abandon_norefund_policies#commentsNewsantitrustApp Storeapple policiescomplaintsGoogle PlayKFTCmac app storeno refundsrefundsrepairsSouth KoreaiPadiPhoneiPodMacMon, 07 Jul 2014 13:02:55 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20273 at http://www.maclife.comApple Updates Pro Video Apps with Support for ProRes 4444 XQ, Media Improvementshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_updates_pro_video_apps_support_prores_4444_xq_media_improvements
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/final_cut_pro_x_on_macbook_pro_620px.png" alt="Final Cut Pro X" width="620" height="346" /></p><p>News spread like wildfire that Apple is killing off pro photo software Aperture, but a handful of new software updates today appears to show a renewed commitment to the Cupertino company's pro video apps.<br /><br />Apple released updates to Final Cut Pro X, Compressor 4, and Motion 5 on Friday, along with a companion ProApps Codecs path that adds support for ProRes 4444 XQ, which offers even higher quality compression for video editing professionals.<br /><br />In addition to ProRes 4444 XQ support, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/final-cut-pro/id424389933?mt=12" target="_blank">Final Cut Pro X 10.1.2</a> allows optimized, proxy, and rendered media to be stored anywhere outside of a user's library and deleted from within the host software. A new used-media indicator also offers an easy way to see which compound clips, multicam clips, and synced clips are already in use, or which media in the Browser has yet to be used.<br /><br />The Final Cut update also improves on speed and accuracy while synchronizing clips, adds audio-recording improvements including countdown and automatic Audition creation from multiple takes, and introduces the ability to export an entire library as a single XML file.<br /><br />Companion apps <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/compressor/id424390742?mt=12" target="_blank">Compressor 4.1.2</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/motion/id434290957?mt=12" target="_blank">Motion 5.1.1</a> also received updates Friday, adding status display and improved responsiveness when using Send to Compressor from Final Cut Pro X for the former, and improved Sequence Text behavior for animating characters, words, and lines for the latter.<br /><br />Along with ProApps Codecs 1.0.5, all four updates are now available for download from the Mac App Store's Software Updates tab, and are free for existing users.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_updates_pro_video_apps_support_prores_4444_xq_media_improvements#commentsNewsCompressor 4Final Cut Pro Xmac app storeMotion 5pro videoProApps CodecsProResSoftware Updatesvideo editing appsMacFri, 27 Jun 2014 20:52:21 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20233 at http://www.maclife.com